Israel-Uganda sign defense cooperation agreement amid criticism

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – Uganda and Israel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense amid growing criticism in the country over Israel’s hacking software.

The signing ceremony took place in the capital Kampala on Tuesday.

Uganda was represented by Rosette Byengoma, while Israel was represented by Asaf Dvir.

“On behalf of the Israel Ministry of Defense (ISMOD), we would like to transfer our appreciation to the government of Uganda, UPDF, for this process and also for the continued relationship in the future,” Dvir said.

Byengoma said: “Israel has helped us to strengthen our different branches of the military, more especially in Air force and Air Defense.”

Last month, Israeli cyber company Cellebrite sold technology for hacking into cell phones to the Uganda Police Force, which has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture and assassination.

Much of the repression has been directed at opposition activists contesting the 36-year rule of the current regime.

The government of Uganda denied hacking claims.

Uganda’s police said while the technology in question was procured, it is not currently in use.

Last year, diplomatic staff at the US embassy in Kampala had their iPhones hacked using spyware sold by the Israeli cyber-weapons company, NSO group.

A number of human rights activists are calling for cessation of sales of the technology and support services to the Ugandan government, which has been in power for close to 40 years.

“The heart of the problem is that we have a military junta pretending to be a government and becoming more and more unrestrained,” Andrew Karamagi, a human rights activist in Uganda, told Anadolu Agency.